As the death toll rises to more than 33,000, Pope Francis renews his appeal for concrete help and prayers for all those affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria.
“We continue to be close, with prayer and concrete support, to the earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey.”
On the ground, religious and lay missionaries are coordinating efforts to provide pastoral and practical support to survivors who have lost everything, a situation worsened by the freezing temperatures.
“I try to be close, there is so much pain and fear in everyone’s heart. What this earthquake has done is unbelievable. People’s fear is stronger than when there was war,” says Father Jacques Mourad, a Syrian monk.
Facing the distressing situation, Catholic Mission, as the Pope’s Mission agency, is taking action to support missionaries in Turkey and Syria who are providing vital emergency support and pastoral care in this time of suffering.
“My message would be a call to prayer and generosity in the following times. After the first moments will have passed the second and third stage will start. Mourning and rebuilding.
“We will have to rebuild and repair many buildings and churches for the service of people. As well as help people to move forward,” says Fr Adrian, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies – Turkey.
Your generous donation today can make a real difference to the lives of people of Turkey and Syria as they seek immediate and ongoing support.
www.catholicmission.org.au/earthquake-appeal
Fears Türkiye-Syria death toll will double in race against time to rescue trapped survivors
The death toll from last week’s two earthquakes has now surpassed 36,000 across Türkiye and Syria, with thousands more injured and fears that the numbers may reach as high as 50,000.
Rescue teams and aid agencies are in a race against time to rescue survivors and provide aid in freezing temperatures. Hundreds of thousands of families have lost their homes and are currently staying in temporary shelters including schools, churches and mosques.
Caritas Australia’s Middle East Humanitarian Lead Sally Thomas said the devastation after this earthquake is massive.
“Families have been separated, and they have no idea if their loved ones have survived or if they will be rescued in time. Everyone – women, children, the elderly are pitching in at the moment, trying to find loved ones and help their neighbours so they can survive another day,” Ms Thomas said.
“There are hundreds of thousands of people in survival mode right now. We’re hearing stories of people who are too scared to stay in their houses because they keep collapsing.
“They’re just trying to get anything they can to survive in the freezing nights – blankets, hot meals and clean water,” she said.
Survivors of the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria urgently need aid such as food, shelter, blankets, and clean water. Clean water and sanitation are also growing needs, as waterborne diseases will quickly spread without clean water and latrines.
The situation in hard-hit Northwest Syria is incredibly challenging. The earthquakes have struck communities already devastated by 12 years of conflict and displacement, which were already reliant on humanitarian assistance for their daily survival.
“It is going to be a long and extremely difficult road to recovery for many in northern Syria,” Ms Thomas continued.
“I remember visiting Haiti two years after the massive earthquake there to see the same families I’d met two years earlier, still living in shanties on top of the rubble. We are looking at the very real possibility of this happening in northern Syria as well if we don’t respond now,” she said.
Caritas Australia’s partner Caritas Syria is distributing food baskets, blankets, mattresses, drinking water and hygiene kits in Aleppo, Lattakia and Hama. Caritas Turkey has set up an emergency hotline for survivors and are distributing food, winter clothing and blankets.
Your generous support can help provide emergency relief to help families recover and rebuild from disaster.
For more information visit www.caritas.org.au/syria-turkey or call 1800 024 413 toll free to provide much needed support to Turkiye and Syria by donating to our earthquake appeal.